Apparatus for holding intraocular lenses and injectors, and methods for using same

ABSTRACT

Apparatus for holding intraocular lenses and apparatus for holding intraocular lens injectors are provided which provide convenient and effective packaging systems for intraocular lenses and allow convenient and effective transfer of an intraocular lens to an injector in preparation for insertion of the intraocular lens into an eye.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to intraocular lenses and injectorsand, more particularly, to apparatus for holding intraocular lenses,apparatus for holding intraocular lens injectors, combinations includingsuch apparatus and methods for loading intraocular lens into injectorsusing such apparatus and combinations.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

As is well known, intraocular lenses or IOLs are used in the eye, forexample, as an adjunct to the natural lens of the eye or to replace thenatural lens of the eye when the natural lens becomes damaged orotherwise incapable of functioning. For example, the natural lens may beremoved and an IOL is inserted into the eye as a direct replacement. Atypical IOL includes an optic or lens body for focusing light toward theretina of the eye, and one or more fixation members or haptics forfixing the IOL in the desired position within the eye.

The IOL preferably is implanted directly into the eye through a smallincision formed in the ocular tissue of the eye. To fit through thissmall incision, optics of modern IOLs are designed to be deformed, e.g.,folded, rolled or the like, to a relatively small profile and thenallowed to substantially return to their original shape within the eye.

The IOL is typically provided to the surgeon or other medical personnelin a packaging system which contains the IOL. These packaging devicesprotect the IOL during handling and transportation to the surgical siteand may even allow for accurately folding the IOL along the opticdiameter in order to reduce its size. Some of these systems specificallyfold the IOL in preparation for grasping by the forceps or othersurgical instrument. One form of such a holding and folding device orsystem is described in Buboltz et al U.S. Pat. No. 5,171,241.

A very useful technique for inserting an IOL into the eye includes theuse of an IOL injector or cartridge, such as the IOL injector describedin Bartell, U.S. Pat. No. 4,681,102. These IOL injectors include a loadchamber which is connected to an injection tube. The load chamberincludes an openable first lumen for receiving the IOL. Closure of thisfirst lumen folds the IOL and maintains the IOL in a folded state. Theinjection tube includes a small diameter distal tip which is insertableinto the incision within the eye. The IOL is transferable from the loadchamber through the injection tube and into the eye. These IOL injectorssimplify the placement of the IOL within the eye and reduce chances ofsurgeon error.

A very useful IOL packaging system is disclosed in commonly assignedU.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/987,864, filed on Dec. 9, 1997, nowU.S. Pat. No. 5,947,974 the disclosure of which is hereby incorporatedin its entirety herein by reference. The IOL is placed on the loadchamber so that the IOL will be folded when the load chamber is closed.

The technique of transferring the IOL to the load chamber of theinjector normally is accomplished by manually manipulating the IOLand/or injector. Such manual manipulation requires a relatively highdegree of dexterity and can result in the IOL being incorrectly loadedin the injector. Also, increased handling increases the risk of damagingand/or contaminating the IOL and/or injector.

It would be advantageous to provide an IOL injector holding system sothat the IOL could be placed in the injector with reduced, or evensubstantially no, manual manipulation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Apparatus for holding intraocular lens injectors, combinations ofintraocular lens injector holding assemblies and intraocular lensholding assemblies, intraocular lens packaging systems and methods forusing intraocular lens injector holding apparatus and assemblies havebeen discovered. The present intraocular lens injector holding apparatusand assemblies provide enhanced ease of use, for example, by requiringreduced dexterity to load an IOL into an injector and/or by simplifyingor eliminating individual steps previously required to load the IOL. Forexample, the IOL injector preferably does not have to be manuallyhandled except to place the injector into an injector system hand piecefor insertion of the IOL into the eye. The present invention reduces therisk of dust or other contamination on the IOL, as well as reducing therisk of damaging the IOL injector. Additional benefits include theprovision for holding a soft tip for use on a push rod of the IOLinjection system. Also, additional lubricants, such as aqueous balancedsalt solution (BSS) and/or visco elastic materials, can be added in theinjector while it is still being held by the holding apparatus orassembly. The present apparatus, combinations, systems and methods arestraightforward in construction and are relatively easy and convenientto manufacture, use and practice.

In one broad aspect of the present invention, apparatus for holding anintraocular lens injector or cartridge having a load or loading chamber,and preferably a pair of generally opposing wings, so that the loadingchamber is maintained in an open position are provided. The apparatuscomprises a housing and at least one element, preferably a plurality ofsuch elements. The housing is sized and adapted to receive theintraocular lens injector. The element or elements are secured to thehousing and are adapted and positioned to stabilize the position of theintraocular lens injector relative to the housing, for example, to holdthe intraocular lens injector in or to the housing, with the loadingchamber in the open position.

The present apparatus for holding an intraocular lens injector may beconsidered a package system for such intraocular lens injectors. Thus,the intraocular lens injector may be included with the apparatus at thepoint of manufacture or assembly of the intraocular lens injector. Inthis fashion, the surgeon or technician at the surgical site does notneed to handle the intraocular lens injector prior to placing theintraocular lens into the injector.

Preferably, the intraocular lens injector has a proximal end, and one ofthe elements of the present apparatus is positioned to be in proximity,or even substantially abutting relation, to this proximal end. Theintraocular lens injector includes an injection tube located distally ofthe loading chamber. One or more of the elements of the presentapparatus preferably are positioned to contact the injection tube, forexample, to stabilize the position of the injection tube, and morepreferably to hold the injector to the housing. In a useful embodiment,one or more elements are positioned to be in proximity to the proximalend of the injector and one or more elements are positioned to contactthe injection tube. Other configurations of these elements may beemployed and are included within the scope of the present invention.These elements preferably are positioned so as to facilitate maintainingthe injector in a substantially fixed position so that the intraocularlens can be placed in the loading chamber in the proper orientation forinsertion into the eye.

The present intraocular lens injector holding apparatus preferablyfurther include support members secured to the housing and adapted andpositioned so that at least one of the support members is in closeproximity to each of the wings of the received intraocular lensinjector. Thus, both wings are provided with such support member ormembers located in close proximity thereto, for example, so that thewings are effectively positioned to facilitate the use of the injectorholding apparatus with the intraocular lens holding assembly, as isdiscussed elsewhere herein.

The housing may include a base, with the element or elements secured tothe base and extending therefrom.

In one embodiment, the housing includes a sidewall extending from,preferably extending generally upwardly from, the base. More preferably,the housing includes a peripheral sidewall which substantially fully orcompletely circumscribes the base. Such sidewall is effective, forexample, to protect the intraocular lens injector during shipment,storage and handling.

In a very useful embodiment, the sidewall includes at least oneprojection extending inwardly. The injector holding apparatus furthercomprises at least one mounting member secured to the housing and spacedapart from the at least one projection. Preferably, the apparatusincludes two of these projections and two of the mounting memberspositioned so that each projection is aligned with and spaced apart froma different mounting member. The projection or projections and mountingmember or members combinations are very effective in facilitating theplacement of the intraocular lens into the intraocular lens injectors,as is described elsewhere herein.

The present intraocular lens injector holding apparatus advantageouslyfurther comprises a tip holder secured to the housing, preferably to thebase of the housing. This tip holder is sized and adapted to hold a tip,for example, a soft tip made of polymeric material, such as siliconepolymeric material, to be placed on the distal end of a push rod used ininserting an intraocular lens into the eye. Thus, the presentintraocular lens injector holding apparatus not only provides for aneasy and convenient way to provide the IOL in the injector, but alsopreferably allows the surgeon to very conveniently place the tip on thepush rod prior to inserting the IOL into the eye.

The present intraocular lens injector holding apparatus preferably aremade of polymeric materials, although other materials of constructionmay be employed. In one very useful embodiment, the present apparatusare unitary in construction, that is have a single piece construction.

In another broad aspect of the present invention, useful combinationsare provided which comprise an intraocular lens injector holdingassembly and an intraocular lens holding assembly. An intraocular lensinjector or cartridge may be removably held to the injector holdingassembly. An IOL, including a deformable optic, may be removablyretained by the intraocular lens holding assembly. The injector holdingassembly and the intraocular lens holding assembly are adapted tocooperate in transferring the intraocular lens to the injector. Theintraocular lens holding assembly preferably is further adapted toreceive and hold the intraocular lens injector. The injector holdingassembly and lens holding assembly advantageously are further adapted tocooperate to directly transfer the injector from the injector holdingassembly to the lens holding assembly. In one embodiment, the lensholding assembly is still further adapted so that the transferredinjector is manually removable from the lens holding assembly togetherwith the IOL. The injector, with the IOL positioned therein, can then beused in inserting the IOL into an eye.

The intraocular lens injector holding assemblies of the presentcombinations preferably are similar in structure and functioning to theinjector holding apparatus described herein and comprise a housing andat least one element, preferably a plurality of elements. The housing issized and adapted to receive an intraocular lens injector having aloading chamber, and preferably a pair of generally opposing wings, sothat the loading chamber is maintained in an open position. The elementor plurality of elements are secured to the housing and are adapted andpositioned to stabilize the position of the injector relative to thehousing, preferably to hold the intraocular lens injector in or to thehousing, with the loading chamber in the open position.

The intraocular lens holding assemblies of the present combinations areadapted for removably retaining an IOL, and preferably comprise aholding member having a first side and a substantially opposing secondside, and more preferably a hinge, such as a centrally located,longitudinally extending hinge. In one embodiment, the holding memberincludes a plurality of retaining members extending from the first sideand adapted to receive and removably retain the intraocular lensinjector. The intraocular lens holding assembly may be considered atleast a portion of a packaging system for the IOL.

In one very useful embodiment, the second side of the holding memberincludes at least one indent, more preferably a hole through the holdingmember, and the housing includes at least one projection adapted to beintroduced into the at least one indent to facilitate the directtransfer of the intraocular lens from the holding member to theintraocular lens injector. More preferably, two spaced apart indents areprovided in the holding member and two corresponding or complementaryspaced apart projections are included in the housing.

At least one of the housing and the holding member, more preferably boththe housing and the holding member, are structured to facilitate theproper positioning of the intraocular lens injector holding assembly andthe intraocular lens holding assembly to facilitate the transfer of theinjector to the holding member and/or the IOL from the holding member tothe intraocular lens injector. For example, the sidewall of the housingmay include an off-center, inwardly extending indexing projection (orrecess) and the holding member may include a complimentarily sized,off-center indexing recess (or projection). The indexing projection andrecess are oriented so that the projection and recess are in matingrelation when the housing and holding member are properly positioned tofacilitate the direct transfer of the injector to the holding member.This feature very effectively reduces, or even substantially eliminates,the risk of the IOL ultimately becoming improperly placed in theinjector.

In a very useful embodiment, the holding member defines a slot, forexample, a slot defined by a groove, sized and adapted for removablyretaining the intraocular lens.

In an additional aspect of the invention, package systems forintraocular lenses are provided and comprise an elongated holding memberand a cover member. The holding member includes a first portion and asecond portion with the first portion being adapted for removablyretaining an intraocular lens. The cover member includes a top and abottom and is adapted to receive the first portion of the holdingmember. The cover member is further adapted to be movable between aclosed position surrounding the first portion and an open position toallow the holding member to be removed from the cover member. The secondportion of the holding member preferably extends outside the covermember while the first portion is received by the cover member and thecover member is in the closed position. The top and the bottom of thecover member preferably are formed as a unitary structure which furtherincludes a hinge located between the top and the bottom, for example, tofacilitate the movement of the cover member between the closed and openpositions.

In a particularly useful embodiment, the top of the cover memberincludes a first fastener member and the bottom of the cover memberincludes a second fastener member positioned and adapted to cooperatewith the first fastener member to hold the cover member in the closedposition. The first and second fastener members preferably can beoperated by one hand of an adult human to open and close the covermember, as desired. The holding member and the cover memberadvantageously are configured to removably hold the holding member tothe holding member when the cover member is received by the covermember.

The present IOL package systems very effectively protect the intraocularlens during transportation and storage. Since the elongated holdingmembers of the present IOL package systems may, and preferably are,substantially similar to the holding members described elsewhere herein,such elongated holding members can be effectively used in transferringthe IOL to an IOL injector, as described herein.

In a still further broad aspect of the present invention, methods forloading IOLs into an injector in preparation for inserting the IOL intoan eye are provided. The injector has a load or loading chamber. Thepresent methods comprise:

providing a deformable IOL in an intraocular lens holding assemblyadapted for removably retaining the IOL;

providing the injector held in an intraocular lens injector holdingassembly including a housing side and adapted to receive the injector sothat the loading chamber is maintained in an open position;

positioning the holding member in close proximity to the housing; and

moving the holding member relative to the housing to effect the directtransfer of the injector from the intraocular lens injector holdingassembly to the intraocular lens holding assembly.

The present methods preferably further provide for removing the injectorand the intraocular lens together from the intraocular lens holdingassembly. The injector and IOL can then be placed in an IOL injectorsystem handpiece, of conventional construction. The IOL in the injector,with the injector in the handpiece, is available for insertion into aneye.

The present intraocular lens injector holding assemblies and/orintraocular lens holding assemblies can very effectively be used in thepresent methods.

Any and all features described herein and combinations of such featuresare included within the scope of the present invention provided that thefeatures of any such combination are not mutually inconsistent.

Additional aspects and advantages of the present invention are set forthin the following description and claims, particularly when considered inconjunction with the accompanying drawings in which like parts bear likereference numerals.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an intraocular lens package system inaccordance with the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the inside of the cover of the package systemshown in FIG. 1

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a combination of anintraocular lens holding assembly and an intraocular lens injectorholding assembly in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a side view, in cross section, of the combination shown inFIG. 3 with the intraocular lens holding assembly positioned in initialcontact with the intraocular lens injector holding assembly.

FIG. 5 is a view taken generally along line 5-5 of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a cross sectional view of the combination shown in FIG. 3 withthe intraocular lens holding assembly fully engaged with the intraocularlens injector holding assembly.

FIG. 7 is a cross sectional view of the intraocular lens holdingassembly holding the IOL injector and being located in a bent condition.

FIG. 8 is a cross sectional view of the intraocular lens injector withthe folded IOL included.

FIG. 9 is a somewhat schematic illustration showing the IOL injectorlocated in a handpiece being used to inject the IOL into an eye.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2, an IOL package system in accordance withthe present invention is shown generally at 10. Package system 10includes a cover 12 and an elongated IOL holding member 14. Cover 12 ismolded out of a thermoplastic polymeric material, such as polypropylene,and includes a top cover 16, a bottom cover 18, and an intermediate area20 joining the top and bottom covers. A hinge 22, of conventionalconstruction, is positioned in the intermediate area 20 and facilitatesmoving the cover 10 between the closed position (FIG. 1) and the openposition (FIG. 2). Cover 12 can be a unitary structure, with one or morehinges, preferably a single hinge, e.g., a living hinge, between the topand bottom covers.

Top cover 16 includes a first fastener component 24, while bottom cover18 includes a second fastener component 26. When cover 12 is located inthe closed position, the first fastener component 24 captures and holdsthe second fastener component 26. When it is desired to open cover 12,the first fastener component 24 can simply be pressed in, which releasesthe second fastener component 26 and allows the cover to be opened. Thefastener including fastener components 24 and 26 is of conventionaldesign. Other fasteners may be employed and are included within thescope of this invention. One advantage of the fastener combination 24and 26 is that it can be operated using a single hand of a human userwho is also holding the system 10.

The inner surface 28 of top cover 16 includes a central area 30including a plurality of features which facilitate placing the IOLholding member 14 in association with cover 12. Specifically, centralarea 30 includes two upwardly extending pegs 32 which fit into firstopening 34 and second opening 36 of IOL holding member 14 (FIG. 3). Withthe pegs 32 in place in the openings 34 and 36 and the cover 12 in theclosed position, the IOL holding member 14 is held substantiallystationary by the cover. In addition, the intermediate region 20includes a projection 38 which extends inwardly toward the central area30. This projection 38 is off-center and is shaped to compliment theoff-center recess 40 of holding member 14 (FIG. 3). Thus, when placingthe holding member 14 in the open cover 12, the projection 38 mates withthe recess 40 to insure that the holding member is properly placedwithin the cover.

Central area 30 also includes a central plateau 42 which is positionedto provide support for the IOL 52 (FIG. 3) being held by the holdingmember 14.

The IOL holding member 14 is described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 3.Holding member 14 includes a first portion 44 and a second portion 46.Second portion 46 extends outside the cover 12 when the cover is in theclosed position (FIG. 1). First portion 44, which defines an internalgroove 38 for removably retaining the optic 50 of IOL 52, is locatedwithin the cover 12 with the cover in the closed position. IOL 52includes deformable optic 50, for example, made of silicone polymericmaterial, flexible or foldable acrylic polymeric material and the like.Filament fixation members or haptics 53 and 55 of IOL 52 are coupled tothe optic 50 and can be made of any suitable material such as apolymeric material, for example, polypropylene, polymethyl methacrylate(PMMA) and the like. The haptics 53 and 55 are positioned generallyparallel to the length of holding member 14. Holding member 14preferably is a unitary structure, for example, molded of thermoplasticpolymeric materials, such as polypropylene and the like.

Package system 10 is used as follows. When it is desired to ship IOL 52,the optic 50 of the IOL is placed in the internal groove 48 of holdingmember 14 (as shown in FIG. 3). The holding member 14 is then positionedrelative to the top member 16 of cover 12 with the pegs 32 located inthe first opening 34 and second opening 36 of the holding member and theprojection 38 of the cover mated to the recess 40 of the holding member.The cover 12 is then placed in the closed position and the packagesystem 10, including IOL 52, is ready for shipment. The IOL 52 in thepackage system 10 can be conveniently and safely shipped, for example,from the IOL manufacturing site to the surgical site. IOL 52 preferablyis subjected to a conventional sterilization procedure prior to beingincluded in package system 10. The package system 10 itself preferablyis subjected to a conventional sterilization procedure and, with the IOL52 in place in the package system, may be included in a suitable bag orother container to maintain satisfactory sterility during shipment.

Once the package system 10 is at the surgical site and the IOL 52 isselected for insertion into an eye, the cover 12 is placed in the openposition and the holding member 14 is removed from the cover. The IOL 52may then be removed for the holding member 14, as is describedhereinafter, and inserted into an eye. The package system 10 preferablyis disposed of after a single use.

With reference to FIG. 3, the holding member 14 can be used incombination with an injector holder, shown generally at 60. Injectorholder 60 includes a base 62 and a peripheral sidewall 64 which fullycircumscribes the base. The combination of base 62 and sidewall 64 canbe considered a housing. Reinforcing ribs 66 are provided aroundsidewall 64 to maintain the structural integrity of the injector holder60. An IOL injector, shown generally at 70, includes a loading chamber72, and an injection tube 74 which is partially defined by an enlargedreinforcing collar 76. With reference to FIG. 4, the injection tubeincludes a right-facing distal end opening 78 through which an IOL whichis included in injector 70 passes for insertion into an eye. Thecombination of the loading or load chamber 72 and the injection tube 74defines a hollow space or passage 80 through which the IOL passes inbeing inserted into the eye. Injector 70 also includes a proximal end82.

As shown in FIG. 3, injector 70, and in particular loading chamber 72,is shown in an open position. A front element 84, secured to base 62,extends upwardly and comes in contact with the reinforcing collar 76 ofinjection tube 74. The front member 84 is configured to cradle or hugthe reinforcing collar 76 in a substantially snug or even grasping fit.This substantially snug or grasping fit is sufficient to hold injector70 to injector holder 60. Back element 86, which also is secured to andextends upwardly from base 62, is positioned to be in relatively closeproximity to the proximal end 82 of injector 70. Back element 86 iseffective to stabilize the position of the injector 70 in injectorholder 60, particularly in combination with front element 84 and thefront end 88 of sidewall 64.

Support members 90 (FIGS. 3 and 5) are secured to and extend upwardlyfrom base 62 and are effective to maintain the wings 73 and 75 ofinjector 70 in an open position and available to cooperate with the IOLholding member 14, as is described hereinafter.

A tip holder 94 is secured to and extends upwardly from base 62 and isconfigured to hold a soft tip 96, made of soft polymeric material, whichis structured to fit onto the distal end of a push rod used in insertingan IOL into the eye through the injector 70. The back portion 100 ofsidewall 64 includes two spaced apart projections 102. These spacedapart projections 102 extend inwardly toward the injector 70 and arelocated near the top end 106 of the sidewall 64. A pair of mountingmembers 108 are secured to and extend upwardly from the base 62 and aregenerally aligned and spaced apart from projections 102, as shown bestin FIG. 3.

In addition, the back portion 100 of sidewall 64 includes an inwardlyextending, off-center indexing projection 112 which cooperates with therecess 40 of holding member 14, as is described hereinafter.

Injector holder 60 preferably is a unitary structure and may beproduced, e.g., molded, from any suitable material of construction, suchas thermoplastic polymeric materials, for example, polyethylene and thelike.

With reference to FIGS. 1 and 3, holding member 14 includes a first side112 and a second side 114. A longitudinally extending living hinge 116extends from the front end 118 to the back end 120 of holding member 14and is centrally located, that is hinge 116 divides holding member 14into two generally equally sized halves 122 and 124 along fold axis 126.

Hinge 116 pivotally couples first and second halves 122 and 124 ofholding member 14 about fold axis 126. Preferably, the hinge 116includes a pair of spaced apart hinge portions aligned along the foldaxis 126 with first and second openings 34 and 36 therebetween. Thehinge 116 allows the first and second halves 122 and 124 to fold towardseach other from a planar position, for example, as illustrated in FIG.7.

Each of the first and second halves 122 and 124 includes a portion ofinternal groove 48 specifically configured for retaining the IOL 52.Preferably, each of these portions of groove 48 comprises an opposinginternal cutout for receiving a portion of the optic 50. Each portionmay be sized and dimensioned to receive and retain an edge of the optic50.

A plurality of retaining brackets 130 are secured to and extendoutwardly from the second side 114 of holding member 14. The first half122 of holding member 14 includes a single retaining bracket 130 and thesecond half 124 includes a pair of spaced apart retaining brackets 130,somewhat differently configured from and generally opposing theretaining bracket 130 on the first half. The retaining brackets 130 aresized and configured for receiving and removably retaining or holdingthe IOL injector 70 to the lens holder 14, as is described hereinafter.

Two spaced apart constraints 132 are secured to and extend from secondside 114 and are sized and positioned to guide the IOL injector 70 intothe retaining brackets 130.

An opening 134 is located in second half 124 and does not extend throughthe holding member 14. This opening 134 is configured for receiving theretaining bracket 130 on the first half 122. The first half 122 includesa pair of spaced apart openings 134 which do not extend through theholding member 14 and are configured for receiving the retainingbrackets 130 and constraints 132 on second half 124.

The openings 134 allow the halves 122 and 124 to fold together about afirst direction such that the two halves lie flat against each other ina folded position. Thus, although it is not preferred, the presentholding member 14, and IOL package system 10, can be employed when theIOL 52 is to be removed from the holding member 14 using a forceps.Thus, when a forceps is to be so used, the two halves 122 and 124 of theholding member 14 are folded along fold axis 126 to lie substantiallyflat against each other. This action exposes the IOL 52 retained by theholding member 14 so that it can be removed from the holding member in afolded condition using a forceps. The folded IOL 52 can then be inserteddirectly into an eye or placed in an IOL delivery system suitable forinserting the IOL in an eye.

The second side 114 includes a plurality of grooves 36. Such grooves 136are positioned generally transverse to the internal groove 48 and extendto the internal groove 48. The grooves 136 are configured and orientedfor use with injector 70 which includes grasping fingers 138.

The holding member 14 includes two spaced apart through holes orrecesses 140 located near the back end 120.

In addition, each of the first and second halves 122 and 124 includelongitudinally extending handling ribs 142 which extend upwardly fromthe first side 112 and extend from the first portion 44 to the secondportion 46 and terminate short of front end 118 of holding member 14.Ribs 142 are effective in allowing the user to conveniently handle andmanipulate the holding member 14.

With particular reference to FIGS. 4 to 6, the combination of theholding member 14 and injector holder 60 is used as follows. With theholding member 14 withdrawn from the package system 10, and the injector70 placed in the injector holder 60, the holding member and injectorholder are brought together. As shown in FIG. 4, the holding member 14,in a planar position, that is with the hinge 116 in a neutral position,is placed so that the projections 102 on holder 60 are introduced intothe through holes 140 of holding member 14. At this point, the endportion 144 of holding member 14 is in contact with each of the mountingmembers 108. In this configuration, the recess 40 is mated with theprojection 112 (FIG. 3), thus assuring that the holding member 14 andinjector holder 60 are properly oriented, and IOL 52 is substantiallydirectly above the load chamber 72 of the injector 70, which is in anopen position.

The holding member 14 is then rotated downwardly, that is pivoted aroundback end portion 144, so that the holding member comes in contact withthe wings 73 and 75 of the injector being held in the injector holder60. As this rotation occurs, the wings 73 and 75, supported by supportmembers 90 are captured by the retaining members 130. In effect, themovement of the loading member 14 relative to the injector holder 60proceeds so that, as shown in FIG. 6, the injector 70 is held orcaptured by the loading member 14. Thus, when the loading member 14 isremoved from the injector holder 60, the injector 70 is removablysecured to the holding member 14, as shown in FIG. 7.

With particular reference to FIG. 7, the lens holder 14, with theinjector 70 removably secured thereto, is folded along hinge 116 andfold line 126 to cause the inserter 70 to move from the flat positionshown in FIG. 6 to a more closed position shown in FIG. 7. The holdingmember 14 is folded until the hinge 116 can fold no more. At this point,the grasping fingers 138 of injector 70 are positioned around the edgesof optic 50, which is still located in the internal groove 48.

In this configuration, as shown in FIG. 7, the user grasps the wings 73and 75 of injector 70 and removes the injector from the holding member14. In so doing, the action of the grasping fingers together with theremoving of the injector 70 from the holding member 14 also removes theIOL 52 from the holding member and places the IOL in the loading chamber72. After the injector 70 is removed from the holding member 14, the twowings 73 and 75 are placed together, as shown in FIG. 8, to place theloading chamber 72 in a closed position with the folded optic 50 locatedtherein. The filament haptics 53 and 55 are located generally parallelto, rather than transverse to, the longitudinal axis of injector 70. Theinserter 70 is now ready to be used to insert the IOL 52 into an eye.

Although it is possible to reuse the holding member 14 and injectorholder 60, preferably these components are disposed of after a singleuse.

An effective amount of a liquid composition, such as an aqueous balancedsalt solution (BSS) and/or a visco elastic material, for example, anaqueous solution of sodium hyaluronate, other conventional visco elasticcomponents, and the like and mixtures thereof, is added to the hollowspace 80 facilitate the passage of the IOL 52 through the hollow spaceand into the eye. If desired, the liquid composition can be added to theload chamber 72 of injector 70 while the injector is held in injectorholder 60.

With the injector 70 configured as shown in FIG. 8 the injector 70 isplaced in association with hand piece 150. In this configuration, showngenerally in FIG. 9, the distal end portion of injection tube 74 extendsdistally beyond the distal end 152 of hand piece 150.

With injector 10 so placed relative to hand piece 150, push rod member154 is placed into the hollow space 80 starting at the proximal end.Prior to this step, the distal end of push rod member 154 is placed intip holder 94 of injector holder 60 so that soft tip 96 is placed on thedistal end of the push rod member. As threads 156 of push rod member 154come in contact with and engage inner threads 158 of hand piece 150, thepush rod member 154 is rotated, so as to thread the push rod member ontothe proximal end portion 160 of hand piece 150. By gradually moving pushrod member 154 through hollow space 80, the folded IOL 52 is urged tomove through the hollow space, through open distal end 78 and into theeye.

The IOL 52 is to be placed in eye 170 into an area formerly occupied bythe natural lens of the eye. The sclera 172 is shown having an incisionthrough which the distal end portion of injection tube 74 is passed.Alternately, the incision can be made through the cornea. The distal endportion of the injection tube 74 preferably has a sufficiently smallcross-section to pass into the eye 170 through a 3.0 mm incision in thesclera 172.

The injection tube 74 is manipulated within eye 170 until it ispositioned so that IOL 52 can be properly positioned in eye 170, that isin the anterior chamber, the posterior chamber, the capsular bag or inthe sulcus, after being released. Thus, the surgeon is able tocontrollably position the distal end portion of injection tube 74, withIOL 52 in the hollow space 80. Once distal end portion of injection tube74 is so positioned, the rod member 154 is urged distally to pass theIOL 52 through the hollow space 80, through the open distal end 78 ofinjection tube 74 and into the eye 170.

After the IOL 52 has been inserted into the eye, the push rod member 154is moved proximally into the injection tube 74 and the distal endportion of the injection tube is removed from the eye. If needed, theIOL 52 can be repositioned in the eye by a small, bent needle or similartool inserted into the same incision.

Once the IOL 52 is properly positioned in eye 170 and injector 70 iswithdrawn from the eye, the incision in the sclera may be mended, forexample, using conventional techniques. After use, injector 70preferably is disposed of. Hand piece 150 and push rod member 154 can bereused, after sterilization/disinfection.

While this invention has been described with respect of various specificexamples and embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention isnot limited thereto and that it can be variously practiced within thescope of the following claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. An apparatus for holding an intraocular lensinjector having a loading chamber, the apparatus comprising:a housingsized and adapted to carry the intraocular lens injector; and at leastone element secured to the housing and adapted and positioned tostabilize the position of the intraocular lens injector relative to thehousing with the loading chamber in an open position.
 2. The apparatusof claim 1 which comprises a plurality of the elements and wherein theintraocular lens injector has a proximal end and one or more of theelements are positioned to be in proximity to the proximal end.
 3. Theapparatus of claim 1 wherein the intraocular lens injector includes aninjection tube located distally of the loading chamber and one or moreof the elements are positioned to contact the injection tube.
 4. Theapparatus of claim 3 wherein the one or more elements in contact withthe injection tube are effective to hold the intraocular lens injectorto the housing.
 5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the intraocular lensinjector includes a pair of movable, generally opposing wings, and theapparatus further comprises at least one support member secured to thehousing and positioned so that at least one support member is inproximity to each of the wings of the intraocular lens injector carriedby the housing.
 6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the housing includesa base and the at least one element is secured to the base.
 7. Theapparatus of claim 6 wherein the housing includes a sidewall extendingfrom the base.
 8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the sidewall is aperipheral sidewall.
 9. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the sidewallincludes at least one projection extending inwardly and the apparatusfurther comprises at least one mounting member secured to the housingand spaced apart from the at least one projection.
 10. The apparatus ofclaim 9 which includes two of the projections and two of the mountingmembers positioned so that each projection is aligned with and spacedapart from a different one of the mounting members.
 11. The apparatus ofclaim 1 which further comprises a tip holder secured to the housing, thetip holder being sized and adapted to hold a tip to be placed on adistal end of a push rod used in inserting an intraocular lens into aneye.
 12. The apparatus of claim 1 which is a unitary structure.
 13. Theapparatus of claim 1 which comprises a polymeric material.
 14. Acombination comprising:an intraocular lens injector holding assemblysized and adapted to hold an intraocular lens injector; an intraocularlens injector removably held to the intraocular lens injector holdingassembly; an intraocular lens holding assembly sized and adapted toremovably retain an intraocular lens; an intraocular lens removablyretained by the intraocular lens holding assembly; and the intraocularlens injector holding assembly and the intraocular lens holding assemblybeing adapted to cooperate in transferring the intraocular lens to theintraocular lens injector.
 15. The combination of claim 14 wherein theintraocular lens holding assembly is further adapted to receive and holdthe intraocular lens injector, and the intraocular lens injector holdingassembly and the intraocular lens holding assembly are further adaptedto cooperate to directly transfer the intraocular lens injector from theintraocular lens injector holding assembly to the intraocular lensholding assembly.
 16. The combination of claim 15 wherein theintraocular lens holding assembly and the intraocular lens injector heldto the intraocular lens holding assembly are further adapted so that theintraocular lens injector is manually removable from the intraocularlens holding assembly together with the intraocular lens.
 17. Acombination comprising:(1) an intraocular lens injector holding assemblycomprising: a housing sized and adapted to carry an intraocular lensinjector having a loading chamber so that the loading chamber ismaintained in an open position; and (2) an intraocular lens holdingassembly comprising: a holding member adapted for removably retaining anintraocular lens; and the intraocular lens injector holding assembly andthe intraocular lens holding assembly being adapted to cooperate intransferring the intraocular lens from the holding member to theintraocular lens injector.
 18. The combination of claim 17 wherein theintraocular lens injector holding assembly further includes at least oneelement secured to the housing and adapted and positioned to stabilizethe position of the intraocular lens injector relative to the housingwith the loading chamber in the open position.
 19. The combination ofclaim 17 wherein the holding member has a first side and a generallyopposing second side and at least one retaining member extending fromthe first side and adapted to receive and removably retain theintraocular lens injector.
 20. The combination of claim 19 wherein theintraocular lens injector holding assembly and the intraocular lensholding assembly are adapted to cooperate to directly transfer theintraocular lens injector from the injector holding assembly to theholding member.
 21. The combination of claim 19 wherein the second sideincludes at least one indent and the housing includes at least oneprojection adapted to be introduced into the at least one indent tofacilitate the transfer of the intraocular lens from the holding memberto the intraocular lens injector.
 22. The combination of claim 17wherein the holding member defines a slot sized and adapted forremovably retaining the intraocular lens.
 23. The combination of claim17 which further comprises a tip holder secured to the housing, the tipholder being sized and adapted to hold a tip to be placed on a distalend of a push rod used in inserting an intraocular lens into an eye. 24.A package system for an intraocular lens comprising:an elongated holdingmember including a first portion and a second portion, the first portionbeing adapted for removably retaining an intraocular lens; and a covermember including a top and a bottom and adapted to receive the firstportion of the elongated holding member and further adapted to bemovable between a closed position surrounding the first portion and anopen position to allow the holding member to be removed from the covermember, wherein the second portion of the holding member extends outsidethe cover member when the first portion is received by the cover memberand the cover member is in the closed position.
 25. The system of claim24 wherein the top and the bottom of the cover member are formed as aunitary structure which further includes at least one hinge locatedbetween the top and the bottom.
 26. The system of claim 25 wherein theunitary structure includes a single hinge located between the top andthe bottom.
 27. The system of claim 24 wherein the top of the covermember includes a first fastener member and the bottom of the covermember includes a second fastener member positioned and adapted tocooperate with the first fastener member to hold the cover member in theclosed position.
 28. The system of claim 24 wherein the holding memberand the cover member are configured to removably hold the holding memberto the cover member when the holding member is received by the covermember.
 29. A method of loading an intraocular lens into an injector inpreparation for inserting the intraocular lens into an eye, the injectorhaving a loading chamber, the method comprising:providing a deformableintraocular lens in an intraocular lens holding assembly adapted forremovably retaining the intraocular lens; providing the injector held inan intraocular lens injector holding assembly including a housing sizedand adapted to receive the injector so that the loading chamber ismaintained in an open position; positioning the holding member in closeproximity to the housing; moving the holding member relative to thehousing to effect the direct transfer of the injector from theintraocular lens injector holding assembly to the intraocular lensholding assembly; and removing the injector and the intraocular lenstogether from the intraocular lens holding assembly.